Elections

LETTER: Rejecting CPA Would be Penny Wise and Pound Foolish

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The city of Watertown is being left behind. This is occurring because we have been penny wise – pound foolish. It’s not the case for Belmont, Waltham, Cambridge, and another 158 additional cities and towns in the Commonwealth. Presently, Watertown sets aside budget money and allocates it for upkeep, update, and the repair of open lands, refurbish playgrounds, preserve historical areas, and other town needs. These are important projects.

Arsenal Mall

Developers Show Plans for Renovating Arsenal Mall, Residents Say Project is Too Big

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After more than a year of planning developers presented their vision for the renovation of the Arsenal Mall to the Planning Board, but some residents said the proposal would be too big for Watertown. The major overhaul of the mall would remove some portions of the current mall, leave the historic buildings and adds new buildings. The project calls for 503 units of housing, some of which would be in a 12-story residential building. Three of the new buildings planned to go in the current front parking lot would have retail on the bottom floor and four or five stories of housing on top. Some of the new features include a movie theater and possibly a bowling alley.

Elections

LETTER: Time Not Right for CPA, Schools Should Take Priority

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The amicably-named Community Preservation Act sounds like a program nearly anyone would enthusiastically support. Many of us believe in the value of historical buildings in giving a town it’s character, maintaining affordable housing, and preserving green space. It conjures up the image of a well-cared-for and friendly town, and who wouldn’t want to live there? Unfortunately, Watertown has some significant needs. We love our community, but we are not yet the best that we can be.

Around Town

Watertown Church Holding Non-Partisan Prayer Service on Eve of Election

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A Watertown church invites residents to attend a non-partisan prayer services the evening before the Presidential Election. The Church of the Good Shepherd will put on the Multi-faith Prayer Service on the Eve of the Election. This non-partisan gathering of people of many faiths will offer time to prepare our hearts and minds for the day ahead. We will pray for ourselves as voters, for the safety of all candidates and voters, for fair and transparent election processes, and for a peaceful and just future for all who call this nation home, according to the announcement from the church. Prayers, poetry, song, silence, and some tea to follow.

Development

Planning Board Will Hear Arsenal Mall Renovation Plans Thursday

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The long awaited plans for the renovation of the Arsenal Mall will be presented to the Watertown Planning Board on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in Town Hall. 

While the master plan will be presented by developers from Boyslton Properties, Planning Board Chairman John Hawes said the staff report will not be completed by Thursday. The Planning Department’s report will presented at a future Planning Board meeting and a vote can happen then. There will be opportunity for the public to comment on the plans, said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon. Because the project sits in the recently created Regional Mixed Use District (RMUD) the Planning Board gives the final approval for the master pan. Most projects need approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Government

State Rep. Hecht Writes About the Projects, Legislation He Worked on This Year

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State Rep. Jonathan Hecht has been busy during the current legislative session and he recently wrote about his recent work on his website. 

Some of the issues he worked on legislation for include opioid abuse prevention, economic development, transgender rights and pay equity. Hecht also devoted time to energy and the Massachusetts Citizens’ Initiative Review (CIR) pilot project where a group of voters learned about an issue and wrote a statement for voters. See more details by clicking here. Hecht also worked on increasing Local Aid, including funding for exceptionally high special education costs. He also pushed for one-time funding for a shuttle for Arsenal and Pleasant streets, and limiting the increase in the MBTA fare increase.

Affordable Housing

Planning Board Supports Increasing Affordable Housing Requirements for New Developments

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The Planning Board voted to support a zoning change that would require developers building medium and large housing projects in Watertown to include more affordable housing. 

Last Thursday, the Planning Board discussed the zoning amendment and voted unanimously to recommend that the Town Council adopt the changes. The proposal was brought to the Town Council by the Watertown Housing Partnership. It was considered first by the Economic Development and Planning Subcommittee and then by the full Council, before being sent to the Planning Board to sign off on it, said Andrea Adams, senior planner in the Watertown Community Development and Planning Department. The town has a requirement that projects of 6 more units have 12.5 percent of units be rented or sold at an affordable rate. When the Town Council approved the Regional Mixed Use District (RMUD) for the section of east Arsenal Street earlier this year, the affordable housing requirement was increased to 15 percent for that area, Adams said.

Elections

LETTER: CPA is a Tax That Supports Special Interests of Proponents

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Yes the so called Community Preservation Act (CPA) is back. After being rejected by the voters overwhelmingly, CPA supporters are hoping that after eleven years we forgot the deceptions and that new residents would believe their propaganda. NO we have not forgotten lies like tenants won’t pay or the empty promises like 100% matching funds. We didn’t fall for their con-job in 2005, and we shouldn’t in 2016. This year’s red herring somewhat imaginative, so I’ll give them points for creativity.